Lasting machine



Oct. 20, 1953 T. P. COURCHENE 2,655,672

LAS'IYING [MACHINE Filed June 6. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 TheodofePCburchene [In/enfor- Oct. 20, 1953 T. P. COURCHENE 2,655,672

LASTING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 InventorTheodorePCourc/mze g h Azzor y Oct. 20, 1953 T. P. COURCHENE LASTINGMACHINE Filed June 6, 1950 Fig. 4 1; J2

4 Sheets-Sheet 25 Inventor Theodore J? Coura/zerze Oct. 20, 1953 T. P.COURCHENE 2,655,672

LASTING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [flue/liar TheodoreP Courchene 3/ his 3 ztor'ney Patented Oct. 20, 1953 2,655,672 LASTINGMACHINE Theodore P. Coul'oliene, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United ShoeMachinery Corporation, Flemington,'N. J., a corporation of New JerseyApplication June 6, 1950, Serial No. 166,389

17 Claims. I

This invention relates to lasting"machines;and

is herein shown as applied to amachine organization of the same generalcharacter as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,843,232granted on February 2 1932', onan application of B. Jorgensen. While itis an object of the invention, in one asp'ect,*to improve anorganization of that character, it is to be understood that theinvention is notthus limited in its tip-'- plicability.

Machines such as shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent arefrequently used for lasting tennis shoes or the like whichare com monlymade on metal lasts and in the lasting of which the uppers are securedto insoles by adhesion. In such a machine the shoe is positioned bottomupward and is operated upon by opposite side-lasting mechanisms whichwipe'the upper heightwise of the lastvin response to downward movementof the last, these mechanismsinelud ing flexible straps which engage theupper frictionally. Associated with the flexible straps are lastingfingers which act thereafter through the straps to lay the marginalDQrtion of the upper inwardly over the insole and to press itdown intoposition to adhere to the insole, As described in the above-mentionedLetters Patent, the side-lasting mechanisms are thus operated first tolast the shank portion of the shoe aqjacent to its heel end andthereafter are moved a short distance lengthwise of the shoetoward itstoe end and repeat their operations on the shoe.

The present invention, as appliedto anorganization of the characterabove outlined, provides the oppositie side-lasting mechanisms withnovel means arranged to cooperate with the fiexible lasting straps incontrolling the upper. The construction shown comprises members arrangedto clamp the marginal portion of the upper against some of the straps,together with means by the action of which these members are caused toassume the required clamping positions with out any attention on theoperators part; More particularly, in order not to interfere'with' thepresentation of the work to the machine, the

clamp members are-held initially by :a' latch in outwardly retractedpositions against the lasting straps, and in response to the movement ofan arm whereby the operator starts thepower operation of the machine themembers are released by the latch. Upon such release they are [movedinwardly and upwardly by springs to positions over the shoe buttombeyond the upstanding ma nal por o h ppe' iand i m diately thereafter acam with which the machineis provided moves them reversely downward andoutward to positions in which they clamp the upper against the straps.It will be understood that the clamp members, in cooperation with thestraps, afford better insurance that the upper will be conformed tightlyand smoothly to the contour of the means will be laid inwardly over theinsole in the proper manner without the presence of any objectionablewrinkles. Prior'to the completion of the laying'of the upper"in- Wardlyover the insole 'itsmarginal portion slips out from between the clampmembers and the straps, means' beingfpro'vided for moving the clampmembers a'shortdistance upwardly to insure their release of the upper;Since the "use of theclamp ,members is not required when theside-lasting mechanisms operate the second time on the shoe, theyjarereleased by the above-men tionedcam and are again moved inwardly andupwardlyto positions ever the shoe bottom by the springs after the firstoperations of the mechanisms remaining in such idle positions during thesecond operations of the mechanisms. Near the end of the cycle a rise onthe cam returns the clamp members to their initial positions against the*lasting'straps, after'whiich the latch, released by return movement ofthe starting arm, retains them in those positions.

The novel features of the invention will' now be more particularlydescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafterpointed out in the claims.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of portions of the machine to whichthe invention is herein shown 'as applied, the parts being shownas theyappear shortly after the starting of the cycle of op ations;

Fig. 2 is a detail view mainly in left-hand side elevation of a portionof the structure shown, in Fi Fig; 3 is a view'mainly-in right-hand sideelevation, with Parts broken away, showing the opposite side-lastingmechanisms in their initial positions;

, Figs. 4, 5,;and 6 are views similar to Fig. 3 of portions of thestructure, butshowingjthe parts 'inpositions assumed 'at different timesin, the op ra ion of th 'rnach'i'n ru 7 section onthe line vii-yu Fig,

, and

3 tioned Letters Patent, the drawings show only portions of the completemachine and the description will be confined to such parts as it isnecessary to refer to for an understanding of the invention. The machineincludes a heel-end support 2 (Fig. I) mounted to slide downwardly inguideways in the frame against the resistance of a spring 4 and carryinga last pin 6 herein shown as extending upwardly into a spindle holeformed in the heel end of a metal last of the kind on which it iscustomary to make tennis shoes and the like. The last with the upperloosely mounted thereon is positioned by the operator on the last pin inpresenting it to the machine, and after opposite side-lastingmechanisms, hereinafter described, have been moved inwardly against theupper on the sides of the last the operator places an insole on thebottom of the last- The toe end of the last and shoe thus positioned 15supported on a toe rest 8 which is movable downwardly against theresistance of a spring ID. The machine includes mechanisms which neednot be described for lasting the toe and heel ends of the shoe. Near thebeginning of the cycle of operations the shoe is moved downwardlyrelatively to the side-lasting mechanisms with the heel-end support 2and the toe rest 8 by a heel presser foot [2 engaging the heel end ofthe insole and a toe presser foot l4 engaging the toe end of the insole,thus causing the side-lasting mechanisms to wipe the upper heightwise ofthe last between the heel-end portion and the ball portion of the shoe.These mechanisms are then operated to lay the margin of the upperinwardly over the shank portion of the insole and to press it down intoposition to adhere to the insole. Thereafter the side-lasting mechanismsare retracted from the shoe, are moved a short distance lengthwise ofthe shoe toward its toe end and are again operated to complete thelasting of the sides of the shoe between the portion first operated uponthereby and the portion operated upon by the toe-lasting mechanism. Theoperations thus briefly outlined are more fully described in theabove-mentioned Letters Patent.

As further disclosed in said Letters Patent, the toe presser foot I4 iscarried by an arm It which the operator swings forwardly about avertical axis by means of a handle l8 thereon to position the presserfoot over the shoe prior to its downward movement, and this swingingmovement of the arm serves to start the cycle of operations of themachine. For this purpose a vertical rod or post 20 to which the arm I5is secured and which is turned by the swinging of the arm impartssimilar turning movement to a collar 22 extending around it, this collarcorresponding to the collar 400 shown in said Letters Patent. By itsturning movement this collar imparts lengthwise rearward movement to arod 24 (Fig. 2) the rear end of which engages a screw 26 mounted in onearm of a bell-crank lever 28 pivotally mounted on a bracket on theframe. The other arm of the bell-crank lever is connected by adownwardly extending link 30 to an arm 32 by upward swinging movement ofwhich a clutch 34 is tripped to start the cycle of operations. Throughthe connections described the arm 32 is thus swung upwardly by theforward swinging movement of the arm I6. The clutch 34 is mounted on acam shaft 36 by the turning of which operative movements are imparted tothe various operating mechanisms.

In general accordance also with the disclosure of the above-mentionedLetters Patent, each of the opposite side-lasting mechanisms, identifiedgenerally by the reference character 38, includes a casing 40 mounted toswing toward and from the shoe on a rod 42 which is moved lengthwise tocarry the mechanism a short distance toward the toe end of the shoeafter its first operation on the shank portion of the shoe adjacent toits heel end. Mounted to swing about each rod 42 within the casing 40 isan arm 44 (Fig. 3) arranged to control a plurality of lasting fingers 46extending generally widthwise of the shoe and preferably four in number.Associated with these fingers are flexible lasting straps 48, prefer--ably made of leather, through which the fingers act on the upper, thestraps extending heightwise of the shoe and outwardly over the fingers.In the construction herein shown there is one strap common to the twofingers which are nearest to the heel end of the shoe and another strapcommon to the two fingers which are nearest to the forepart of the shoe.Associated with each strap are two side pressers each comprising an arm50 pivotally mounted on a rod 52 on the casing 40 to swing widthwise ofthe shoe and having pivotally mounted on a pin 54 on its upper end ablock 58 arranged to press the strap against the side of the shoe, thelower end of the strap being secured to the block. One of the two arms50 associated with each strap is engaged by a pin 58 slidingly mountedin the casing 40 and controlled by a spring 60 which tends to swing thearm inwardly toward the shoe, such swinging movement of the arm beinglimited by engagement of a lug 62 on the lower end of the arm with aplate 64 on the casing 40. The other of the two arms 50 is similarlycontrolled by a spring 66 connected to a finger E8 on the lower end ofthe arm and to a pin on the casing 40, the finger 68 engaging the plate64 to limit the swinging of the arm by the spring. It will thus be seenthat when the side-lasting mechanisms 38 are swung inwardly toward theshoe the blocks 56 adjust themselves to the shoe and press the straps 48yieldingly against the sides of the shoe under the influence of thesprings 68 and 86.

Each of the four lasting fingers 45 of each side-lasting mechanism hastherein a slot 10 (Fig. 3) and through the slots in the several fingersextends a rod 12 which, in the construction herein shown, is carried bya yoke 14 (Fig. 7) secured on the upper end of the arm 4 Slidinglymounted in each finger and engaging the rod 12 is a pin 18 pressedoutwardly against the rod by a spring 18. Accordingly, at theappropriate time in the operation of the machine, the rod (2 actsthrough the pins 16 and the springs 18 to force the fingers 46yieldingly inward over the bottom of the shoe to lay the margin of theupper over the insole in response to inward swinging movement of the arm44 while the casing 40 is substantially stationary. The straps 48 areconnected at their outer ends to blocks slidingly movable in inwarddirections in the fingers 45 against the resistance of springs 82. Thefingers, therefore, may slide along the straps as they are movedinwardly over the bottom of the shoe. Under each finger is a plunger 84pressed upwardly by a spring 86 in the yoke 14, the several springs thustending to swing the fingers upwardly and thereby maintaining the strapsin a taut condition.

Connected to the two casings 40 and tending to swing them inwardlytoward the shoe is a spring 88 against the resistance of which they areswung to their outermost positions by the gas-eta rm 4 or t is purposehe cons ruc io h r in; shown, e ch a m r i a stud rran ed to en a e theca no at e. ou er nd of a slot 92 in the casing. For controlling andoperating the arms 44' there are provided two toggle links 94 pivotallyconnected near their outer ends to the arms by means of pins 95 andpivotally mounted at their :inner ends on'a rod 96, the two toggle linksbeing also mounted to slide lengthwise of the rod 86 to permit them tobe moved lengthwise of the 'shoewith the side- .l t m an sm Th rod 96 iss pp ted. in the upper end of a'downwardly extendinglink 98 whichcorresponds to the link 646 shown .in the previously mentioned LettersPatent. As shown in Fig. 8, the link v98 is pivotally con-'- nected atits lower end to a lever I00 pivotally mounted on a rod I02 on theframe, and this lever is connected by a two-part link" I04 to a leverI06 pivotally mounted on a shaft I08. One part III] of the link I04 isconnected to the lever I00 and is hollow to provide a housing for aplunger '2 on the upper end of a rod II4 which serves as the other partof the link and which is connected to the lever I06. A spring 'I I6engaged by the plunger H2 is arranged to be compressed by downwardmovement of the rod I I4 relatively to the part IIO of the link toprovide a yielding operating connection between the lever I06 and thelever I00. The lever I08 carries a roll H8 arranged to be engaged by apath cam I28 formed in one side of a cam wheel I22 on the cam shaft 36.Initially the arms 44 and; the casings 40 of the side-lasting mechanismsare held in their outermost positions, in which they are shown in Fig.3, by a pivotally mounted latch lever I24 which holds the lever I00upraised. Prior to the starting of the machine this latch lever isoperated to release the lever I00 by movement of a plunger I26 which theoperator pushes rearwardly with his knee, the means for operating thelatch lever by the movement of the plunger being more fully described inthe previously mentioned Letters Patent. The release of the lever I00renders the spring 88 effective to swing the side-lasting mechanismsinwardly toward the shoe and thus to cause the straps 48 to be pressedyieldingly against the upper by the arms 50 and the blocks 56; ashereinbefore described and as shown in Fig. 4, ready to wipe thesupperheightwise of the last in response to downward movement of the shoeafter the starting of the machine. Such inward movements of theside-last ing mechanisms are permitted by the fact that initially theroll II8 lies in a widenediportion I28 of the path cam I20. This cam isso formed that after the downward movement of the shoe the arms 44 areswung farther inwardly to cause the fingers 46, acting through thestraps 48, to lay the marginal portion of the upper over the insole inthe manner hereinbefore described As the fingers are thus moved inwardlytheir inner ends are forced downwardly toward the bottom of the shoeagainst, the resistance of the springcontrolled plungers 84 by the pullof the straps thereon. Further to'increase the downward pressure on theupper over the insole, an extension I30 of each of the toggle links 04is arranged to act througha sleeve I32 and a spring I34'to move a deviceI35 upwardly into position to swing the fingers 46 about the rod 12inthe direction to depress their inner ends. The cam I20 is further soformed as to withdraw the sideelasting m c s r m h oe pr para o to themovement thereof toward the toe end of the shoe and thereafter to causethem to operate on the shoe the second time, means being provided forpreventing them from being caught-and held by the latch lever I24 whenthey are thus with drawn, as disclosed in detail in the above-mentionedLetters Patent.

For purposes of this; invention the yokes 14, secured as hereinbeforedescribed to the upper ends of the arms 44, are each provided withupwardly extending side portions which are spaced apart and in the upperends of which is mounted a shaft I38 (Figs. 3 and 7'). Between theupwardly extending side portions of each yoke is a holder I40 which, bymeans of members I4I thereon, is hung on the shaft; I38 and provides aguideway for a rack'bar I42 extending widthwise of the shoe, the teethon the rack bar being engaged by a pinion I44 fast on the shaft I38between the members I. Pivotally mounted on a pin I46 on the inner endof the rack bar I42 lsa downwardly extending finger I48 which serves asa clamp member for clamping the marginal portion of the upper againstone of the lasting straps 48 A'spring I50 connected to the finger and toa lug I52 on the rack bar I42 tends to swing the finger, in an outwarddirection, its swinging movement in this direction, when it is not inengagement with the upper or with the lasting strap, being limited byits engagement with the end of the rack bar. By swinging movements ofthe holder I 40 about the shaft I38'the finger I48 may be moved upwardlyand downwardly, its downward movement being limited by engagement of thehead of 'a screw I54 on the rack bar I 42 with one of the lasting straps48 and its upward movement being limited by engagement of the holder I40with a crosspiece I56 carried by the'yoke 14. Secured toone side portionof the yoke 14 are plates I58 and I60 which cooperate with that portionof the yoke to provide a guideway for another rack bar I62 extendingupwardlyand downwardly, the teeth of this rack bar engaging a pinion I64fast on the shaft I38. Pivotally connected to the lower end of the rackbar I62 "is a link I66 the lower end of which is pivotally connected toone end of a lever I68 pivotally mounted between its opposite ends onthe previouslymentioned stud carried by the arm-44. Connected at one endto a lug I10 on thelin'k I66 and at its other end-to a pin I12 on thecasing 40 is a spring I14 which tends to move the rack bar I62 in adownward direction and thereby to move therack bar I42 in an inwarddirection, such inward movement of the rack bar, I-42'being limited byengagement of a pin I16 on its outer end with the holder I40. It will beevident that after the pin has engaged the holder the spring I14 'fllther tends to swing the holder about the axis of the shaft I38 in thedirection to raise the finger I48; this movement being limited byengagement of th holder with the crosspiece I56; Accordingly, thesprings I14 associated with the opposite side-lasting mechanisms, whenpermitted by means hereinafter described for controlling the levers I68,move the rack bars I42 inwardly and swing them upwardly to carry thefingers I46 from initial positions in which they are shown in Fig.3,'where they are held by the springs I 50 yieldingly in-engagement withthe straps 48, to the positions over the shoe bottom in which theyare'shown in-F-ig- 4.

For controlling the levers I68 there is mounted for turning movement inbrackets I18- secured on I 8 0 having fast thereon a "pair --of "arms 1I82-proacumen.

vided with laterally extending lugs I84 arranged to overlie and engagerolls I86 on the levers I68. It will be understood that the lugs I84extend far enough to insure cooperative relation between them and therolls I86 notwithstanding such bodily movements as are imparted to thelevers I68 by the swinging of the arms 44. Extending from one of thearms I82 is an arm I88 (Figs. 1 and 3) connected by a link I99 to oneend of a lever I92 pivotally mounted between its opposite ends on amember I94 fast on the vertically movable heel-end support 2. The otherend of the lever I92 is connected by a downwardly extending link I96 toa lever I99 mounted to swing about a shaft 299. Connected to the leverI98 is a spring 292 which tends to swing it upwardly. It will thus beseen that when the lever I98 is swung in a downward direction it swingsthe lever I92 in a clockwise direction with reference to Fig. 1 and.through the link I99, swings the arms I82 in a downward direction. Bythe engagement of the lugs I84 of these arms with the rolls I86 on thelevers I68 these levers are swung in directions to impart upwardmovements to the rack bars I62 against the resistance of the springs I14and thereby to move the rack bars I42 in outward directions. By reasonof friction and gravity the first result of such upward movements of therack bars I62 is to swing the holders I49 and the rack bars I42 in thedirections to carry the clamp fingers I48 downwardly, these movementsbeing limited by engagement of the screws I54 with the straps 48. Inthis manner the clamp fingers I48 are carried downwardly and outwardlyinto positions to engage the straps 48 or, at the appropriate time, toclamp the marginal portion of the upper against the straps. Initially,as already suggested, the clamp fingers I 48 are held in retractedpositions against the straps 49 as shown in Fig. 3, thus providing roomfor the mounting of the last, with the upper thereon, on the last pin 6and the placing of the insole on the bottom of the last. For holding theclamp fingers in these positions there is further provided a latch 294(Figs. 1 and 3) pivotally mounted on a member 266 on the base of themachine and arranged to engage the head of a stud 298 whereby the linkI96 is pivotally connected to the lever I98. A spring 2I9 connected tothe latch tends to swing it into position thus to hold the fingers I48,in which position it is shown in Fig. 3,

For causing the clamp fingers I49 to be moved by the springs I14 fromthe positions in which they are shown in Fig. 3 to the positions inwhich they are shown in Fig. 4, mechanism is provided for swinging thelatch 294 to release the lever I99 by the forward swinging movement ofthe arm I6 whereby, as hereinbefore described, the operator starts thecycle of operations of the machine by tripping the clutch 34. Thismechanism includes a bar 2 I2 secured to the link 39 which is movedupwardly by the forward movement of the arm I 6, the bar 2 I2 beingconnected by a link 2 l4 to a bell-crank lever 2I6 pivotally mounted ona member 2l8 on the base of the machine and this bell-crank lever beingconnected by a long link 229 to the latch 294. As the parts are shown inFig. 1, the latch has been swung into position to release the lever I98by the forward swinging movement of the arm I6.

When the lever I98 is released by the latch 294 as above described, itis swung upwardly by the spring 292 to carry a roll 222 thereon intoengage.-

ment with a cam 224 on the cam shaft 36. In

response to this upward movement of the lever I98 the arms I82 are swungupwardly, thus causing the springs I14 to move the clamp fingers I48 tothe positions shown in Fig. 4. Immediately after the starting of thecycle of operations a rise 226 on the cam 224 swings the lever I98downwardly to cause the arms I82 to swing the levers I68 in thedirections to move the clamp fingers I48 downwardly and outwardly in themanner hereinbefore described to clamp the marginal portion of the upperagainst the straps 46 as illustrated in Fig. 5. Substantially at thesame time the shoe is moved downward a short distance by theheel-presser-foot I2 and the toe-presser-foot I4 to cause the straps 48to wipe the upper heightwise of the last, Fig. 5 showing the parts asthey appear after such downward movement of the shoe. It will be evidentthat since the arms I82 and the lever I92 are carried by the downwardlymovable heel-end support 2, the tendency of such movement of the supportis to cause the arms I82 to swing in upward directions, but this issubstantially compensated for by the fact that the arms are carriedbodily downward by the support. The rise 226 on the cam holds the leverI98 depressed until the lasting fingers 46 have been moved inwardly tolay the marginal portion of the upper over the insole as illustrated inFig. 6. Before the fingers 46 have completed their inward movements themargin of the upper slips out from between the clamp fingers I48 and thestraps 43. To afford better insurance that regardless of the width ofthe marginal portion of the upper extending inwardly over the insole itwill always be released by the clamp fingers by the time the lastingfingers 46 have completed their inward movements, there is pivotallymounted on a stud 226 (Figs. 4 and '1) on one side of each of the yokes14 a lever 239 having an inwardly extending arm 232 provided with a pin234 arranged to underlie the holder I49 in which the rack bar I42 ismounted. Adjustably secured to the casing 49 by two screws 236 (Fig. 7)is a bar 238 in the upper end of which is mounted a pin 249 arranged toengage the upper face of an outwardly extending arm 242 of the lever 239in response to the inward swinging movement of the arm 44 relatively tothe casing 49 and thereby to swing the lever 239 in the direction toraise the clamp finger I49 (see Fig. 6). The screws 236 extend through aslot 244 in the bar 238 to permit such adjustment of the bar as to varythe amount of upward movement thus imparted to the clamp finger.

When the side-lasting mechanisms operate the second time on the shoe ashereinbefore described, after they have been moved a short distancelengthwise of the shoe toward its toe end, conditions are such that theuse of the clamp fingers I48 is unnecessary and even undesirable. Priorto the second operations of the mechanisms, therefore, the rise 226 onthe cam 224 releases the lever I98, whereupon the springs I14 move theclamp fingers again inwardly and upwardly to idle positions such asillustrated in Fig. 4. Machines such as shown in the previouslymentioned Letters Patent are provided with shoe-removing mechanism whichis swung downwardly over the shoe into position to grip the shoe andthereafter removes the shoe from the shoe-supporting means. In order toprevent interference between the shoe-removing mechanism and the clampfingers I48 and their supports, the cam 224 has thereon a second rise248 which engages the roll 222 and swings the lever I98 downwardlytoward the-end of the cycle of diierations. .By this downjverd 'ewiheih;moverh''fit oi the I'vr the chimp 'fing'ei 's 1118' ar 'retiirh'ed to'iaesit'ions' Th "eheegenient with the resting street 48. Before thefisem en the hem releases the ever m; the em 7,

Que, the mating upwardly they them" the hee,

@1551) with en up'pe'r wheels es sem ree'thereeh 'oh the rest pin 6, theopposite sidedet'ih rh eeheni'sins 38 hecupy hg at thiet'iine theirihit'iai'oiit =tv'ati'd1y retracted 'phsitiehe Whi'o'h they ere ehe n inFig. 3 by reesth of the eheegemeht fof the latoh iever I24 '(Fign ii)with thel'i r TITO.

At this time, me'reover, the le'v'e'i' m ti e. a) is heldby the latch204 in its lowered position, eii'd heoidi'figly the "clamp 'fihgeis 'I4'8 t'iheid in their straps 1'8. After xhmintmg' the last o the rest.p'ih the eherater the hleh ger m freerwerdly ehe thereby cause the iat'h lever [24th eeiee'se the lever 1'00, as s ew ih Fig. 8, whefe-'tibofithe eprthgsa stv'ihge the side lesti e methahisin s i tvermy to tese the etm sfas tote pressed j iel'dihgl'y against the upper at thesides erjthe test by the arms to (Fig. '4), The ehere ter thenihoiifit's eh ihsole on "the bottor jof the last. "thereafter he the imIt forwardly to earn; the tee-messer-reet M to h "petition "over ithe'tbe ehe 6f the shoe; aha y'this iovemeht of the aim the link at is iheved upwerdiyte trip the ohith 3'4 "and stt'rt'the cycle or operations.*The hpwera mevemeht hr the time "serves, throug the eehheeti'ohs:eescrihed; to'fin'eve the ieteh "204 into positionto re1ease therevert, =xthe feuheh the "s ring 292 s'wihgs thiei'ever 'np warms tocarry the roll 222 into engagement with -the 2-24. By the upwardmovemeht or the lever ran the armsraz are swung upwardly, thus eeus'ihethe springs 1 r4, acting through the rack bars 1'62 and M2, to movethefclainpfingers "lit inwardly and upw'ardryte positions ever theia'dttem ef'the "shoe; esshe nih Fig. 4.1mmdi'ate ly after the etertiheof the mechin'e t e rise '22'6 on the cam "22! ewihge the' revel 9a eo'wW'aIHIyeJndtherebY causes the arms I 82 to swing the revere [68 in thedire'etiohs to inove the c amp :fiheerem downwardly end eutwerdly, thuscaesihg these finger to amp the marginal portioh hr the upheryieldin'gly against the lastin straps 48 in locations farther outwardthan the edge of "the meme in the manner illustrated n Fig.5. Neer'thebeginning of the c'ycl'e also the heelpre'ss'erfioot 12 and thetee-'p'reseer feet Mimpart "a short downward movemeiit to the s oe tocause the straps 4a to wipe the'upper he the sides or the rest, the shoebeing showr 'in' Fig. 5'in its de ress d position. Thereafter the arms Jfaire swung-inwardly by the aetion or the em 120 (the; Si to cause the rstingfingers at, 'etetih through the straps 48, to ray the marginalportion er the upper inwardly ever 'the'iiisol'eifitd pesttieh te adhereto the meme, as; injhs'tfatedfih Fig. 6. Ih 'res ehse to the int/ reswih'eihe rhovi'riefits of the arms it the pins? on the herezea e eeee"the outwardly extending arms 242 of the levers i311 and swing theselevers in the directions to causethe pix- 234 to impart upward swingingv d h y the springs I14 again inwardly and upvV'aIfdIY to idle positionssl'i'bh its shown in Fig. '4. After movements to the inner portions ofthe holders frtq eha ther ek her m In this ihen'fieithe 'clam 'nngerslaaare moved upwardly fairehdiieh "to insure that regardless of theextent of the upper 'they'wiil release the upper.

Theshoe having thus been tested etfthe'eides of t ee' ehk portionadjacent to its heel end, the

isideles'tii g -mechanisms ere swung eutweter away from the shoe by thea'otion of the tam 121! "31nd are moved a, Short distance len gthtvise'of the shoe toward its toe end into positiensto CombIet'e the lastingor the sides of th'e's'hoe es far the ii'ortion operated upon by'thtoe-15st- 'in'g mechanism. Prior to the second opefatitihs "of the'side' lis'ti'ng mechanisms on the shoetfie I is releasedby the rise {26on thee-em :24 th cause the time fingers 14a to be m t eece dheer 'tieheer the side-last ng mechahieihe t e eone rise ten the cam zzfl'iiiieft'e downward movement'aga'in to the lev'e'r'fl'fl, th'ns'c'ali'sfing the olainp'fing'ers M8 to hemevea dow'hwbmmifah'd'outwardly to their retrel'dted pbsl the i h'geeemeht with thestraps at. These fingers, therefore, and their supports are not iiipositions to interfere'w'ith the action or the shoe-rem m 'ine'chahisiiiwhen that mechanism ats "oh th shoe. Before the me 24s on the hem hesrhetea far enough to release the 1ever 1st the t e ft is swung'reerwerdl rom over the shde'ehe '1; re-

by tenses the latch 2 01 to Dei'tU rhd i nfib iib S ition to hold thelever [98. Prior to the n'dfb'f the ey'cle the rise 246 onthe Cainpasses heyehe the roll 222,}? that the ever ['18 t ey be "sweheLupwardly in response to'forwz'tr'd "stiringih' 'm'o'vemeht er t e "arml6 iii the 'eheretieher the chine (iii the iikt shoe. v

hevihgeeserihea the ihvehtien, w at i 'eieiht as new and desire tose'nf'e by Letters Patent'o'f the muted stat s "is: e

1. In a. lasting 'r'naohi'ne, opfib s it e si d-lfstihg .tq extendinwardly over the streps for me dig said clamp members after thestarting ofth'e cyoleof operetions in outward directions widthwise ofthe last ihto petitions thus to oleinp the upper against the street inlocatiohs ferth'erbi'itward widthwise of the Test than the edge of-inso1e on the lest.

\ 2. r e tg e t e e ine, eepehte ete -hetihe mechanisms ineludihgfiexible' listing straps for hgee hg t e eater rate or an upper at theep es'it'e sides of 'a, last "and for Working the ripper into lastedposition iii the Course of a (While "of ether opereltions of th'emeohi'ne, 'clarn'p members erranged to en age the inner face of theupper aha .t o the liipper aain'st said themes to control it'in thelasting obe'ration, and means including here ettei th -starting or thecycle er operat ons .aeifist the st 'rabs. I, M -3. In exlestihg meehnege pes te side-"lest ihechehishts theihdih flekible iastihg stra s forengaging the outer face of an upper at the opposite sides of a last andfor working the upper into lasted position in the course of a cycle ofpower operations of the machine, clamp members arranged to engage theinner face of the upper and to clamp the upper against said straps tocontrol it in the lasting operation, means for moving said clamp membersinwardly toward each other widthwise of the last after the work has beenpresented to the machine but independently of the cycle of operations,and additional means for thereafter moving said members reversely inoutward directions into positions to clamp the upper against the strapsin locations farther outward widthwise of the last than the edge of aninsole on the last as a part of the cycle.

4. In a lasting machine, opposite side-lasting mechanisms includingflexible lasting straps for engaging the outer face of an upper at theopposite sides of a last and for working the upper into lasted positionin the course of a cycle of power operations of the machine, clampmembers arranged to engage the inner face of the upper and to clamp theupper against said straps to control it in the lasting operation, springmeans for mov ing said clamp members inwardly toward each otherwidthwise of the last after the work has been presented to the machine,and power-operated means for thereafter moving said members reversely inoutward directions into positions to clamp the upper against the strapsin locations farther outward widthwise of the last than the edge of aninsole on the last.

5. In a lasting machine, opposite side-lasting mechanisms includingflexible lasting straps for engaging the outer face of an upper at theopposite sides of a last and for working the upper into lasted positionin the course of a cycle of power operations of the machine, clampmembers arranged to engage the inner face of the upper and to clamp theupper against said straps to control it in the lasting operation,retaining means for holding said clamp members in outwardly retractedpositions when the work is presented to the machine and for thereafterreleasing said members, spring means for moving the members inwardlytoward each other widthwise of the last when they are thus released, andpower-operated means for moving said members thereafter reversely inoutward directions into positions to clamp the upper against the strapsin locations farther outward widthwise of the last than the edge of aninsole on the last.

6. In a lasting machine, opposite side-lasting mechanisms includingflexible lasting straps for engaging the outer face of an upper at theopposite sides of a last and for working the upper into lasted positionin the course of a cycle of power operations of the machine, means forstarting the cycle of operations, clamp members arranged to engage theinner face of the up r and to clamp the upper against said straps tocontrol it in the lasting operation, retaining means for holding saidclamp members in outwardly retracted positions when the work ispresented to the machine, mechanism for causing said retaining means torelease the members as an incident to the starting of the cycle ofoperations, spring means for moving said members inwardly toward eachother widthwise of the last when they are thus released, andpower-operated means for moving said members reversely in out warddirections to clamp the upper against the straps after the starting ofthe cycle.

7. In a lasting machine, opposite side-lasting mechanisms includingflexible lasting straps for engaging the outer face of an upper at theopposite sides of a last and for working the upper into lasted positionin the course of a cycle of power operations of the machine, a startingmember movable by the operator to start the cycle of operations, clampmembers arranged to engage the inner face of the upper and to clamp theupper against said straps to control it in the lasting operation, alatch for holding said clamp members in outwardly retracted positionswhen the work is presented to the machine, means for operating saidlatch by the movement of said starting member to release said clampmembers, spring means for moving the clamp members inwardly toward eachother widthwise of the last when they are thus released, andpower-operated means for moving said members reversely in outwarddirections to clamp the upper against the straps after the starting ofthe cycle.

8. In a lasting machine, opposite side-lasting mechanisms includingflexible lasting straps for engaging the outer face of an upper at theopposite sides of a last positioned bottom upward and for working theupper into lasted position in the course of a cycle of power operationsof the machine, clamp members arranged to engage the inner face of theupper and to clamp the upper against said straps to control it in thelasting operation, means for moving said clamp members inwardly towardeach other widthwise of the last and also upwardly to positions over thebottom of the last after the work has been presented to the machine butindependently of the cycle of operations, and additional means forthereafter moving said members reversely in downward and outwarddirections to clamp the upper against the straps as a part of the cycle.

9. In a lasting machine, opposite side-lasting mechanisms includingflexible lasting straps for engaging the outer face of an upper at theopposite sides of a last positioned bottom upward and for working theupper into lasted position in the course of a cycle of power operationsof the machine, clamp members arranged to engage the inner face of theupper and to clamp the upper against said straps to control it in thelasting operation, spring means for moving said clam members inwardlytoward each other widthwise of the last and also upwardly to positionsover the bottom of the last after the work has been presented to themachine, and power-operated means for thereafter moving said membersreversely in downward and outward directions to clamp the upper againstthe straps.

10. In a lasting machine, flexible lasting straps arranged to engage anupper at the opposite sides of a last, lasting fingers arranged to actthrough said straps to lay the marginal portion of the upper inwardlyover an insole on the last, supports for said fingers movable widthwiseof the last to cause the fingers thus to act on the upper, rack barscarried by said supports and arranged to extend widthwise of the last,clamp members carried by said rack bars for clamping the upper againstsaid straps to control it in the lasting operation, other rack barscarried by said supports and mounted for movements heightwise of thelast, and connections for moving said firstnamed rack bars widthwise ofthe last relatively to said supports by the movements of said other rackbars.

11. In a lasting machine, flexible lasting straps arranged to engage anupper at the opposite sides of a last, lasting fingers arranged to actthrough said straps to lay the marginal portion of the upper inwardlyover an insole on the last in the course of a cycle of power operationsof the machine, supports for said fingers movable widthwise of the lastto cause the fingers thus to act on the upper, rack bars carried by saidsupports and arranged to extend widthwise oi the last, clamp memberscarried by said rack bars for clamping the upper against said straps tocontrol it in the lasting operation, other rack bars carried by saidsupports and mounted for movements heightwise of the last, operatingconnections between said other rack bars and the first-named rack bars,and mechanism arranged to act through said rack bars after the startingof the cycle of operations to move said clamp members in outwarddirections widthwise of the last to clamp the upper against said straps.

12. In a lasting machine, flexible lasting straps arranged to engage anupper at the opposite sides of a last, lasting fingers, arranged to actthrough said straps to lay the marginal portion of the upper inwardlyover an insole on the last in the course of a cycle of power operationsof the machine, supports for said fingers movable widthwise of the lastto cause the fingers thus to act on the upper, rack bars carried by saidsupports and arranged to extend widthwise of the last, clamp memberscarried by said rack bars for clamping the upper against said straps tocontrol it in the lasting operation, other rack bars carried by saidsupports and mounted for movements heightwise of the last, operatingconnections between said other rack bars and the firstnamed rack bars,spring means arranged to act through said rack bars to move said clampmembers inwardly toward each other widthwise oi the last after the workhas been presented to the machine, and power-operated means arranged toact thereafter through said rack bars to move said clamp membersreversely in outward directions to clamp the upper against the straps.

13. In a lasting machine, flexible lasting straps arranged to engage anupper at the opposite sides of a last, lasting fingers arranged to actthrough said straps to lay the marginal portion of the upper inwardlyover an insole on the last in the course of a cycle of power operationsof the machine, supports for said fingers movable widthwise of the lastto cause the fingers thus to act on the upper, rack bars carried by saidsupports and arranged to extend widthwise of the last. clamp memberscarried by said rack bars for clamping the upper against said straps tocontrol it in the lasting operation, other rack bars carried by saidsupports and mounted for movements heightwise of the last, operatingconnections between said other rack bars and the first-named rack bars,retaining means arranged to act through said rack bars to hold saidclamp members in outwardly retracted positions when the work ispresented to the machine and thereafter to release said members, springmeans for moving the members inwardly toward each other widthwise of thelast when they are thus released, and power-operated means arranged toact through said rack bars after the starting of the cycle of operationsto move said members reversely in outward directions to clamp the upperagainst the straps.

14. In alasting machine, flexible lasting straps arranged to engage anupper at the opposite sides of a last, lasting fingers arranged to actthrough said straps to lay the marginal portion of the upper inwardlyover an insole on the last, supports for said fingers movable inwardlywidthwise of the last to cause the fingers thus to act on the upper,clamp members carried by said supports for clamping the marginal portionof the upper against the straps to control it in the lasting operation,and means responsive to the inward movements of said supports for movingsaid clamp members heightwise of the last relatively to the straps toinsure their disengagement from the upper.

15. In a lasting machine, flexible lasting straps arranged to engage anupper at the opposite sides of a last, lasting fingers arranged to actthrough said straps to lay the marginal portion of the upper inwardlyover an insole on the last, supports for said fingers movable inwardlywidthwise of the last to cause the fingers thus to act on the upper,clamp members carried by said supports for clamping the marginal portionof the upper against the straps to control it in the lasting operation,devices also carried by said supports for moving said clamp membersheightwise of the last relatively to the straps to insure theirdisengagement from the upper, and means relatively to which said devicesare movable by the supports for thus operating them in response to theinward movements of the supports.

16. In a lasting machine, flexible lasting straps arranged to engage anupper at the opposite sides of a last, lasting fingers arranged to actthrough said straps to lay the marginal portion of the upper inwardlyover an insole on the last, supports for said fingers movable inwardlywidthwise of the last to cause the fingers thus to act on the upper,clamp members carried by said supports for clamping the marginal portionof the upper against the straps to control it in the lasting operation,levers also carried by said supports and arranged to move said clampmembers heightwise of the last relatively to the straps to insure theirdisengagement from the upper, and members for thus operating said leversin response to the inward movements of the supports.

17. In a lasting machine, flexible lasting straps arranged to engage anupper at the opposite sides of a last, lasting fingers arranged to actthrough said straps to lay the marginal portion of the upper inwardlyover an insole on the last, arms supporting said fingers and mounted forinward swinging movements widthwise of the last to cause the fingersthus to act on the upper, clamp members carried by said arms forclamping the marginal portion of the upper against the straps to controlit in the lasting operation, supports for said clamp members mounted toswing relatively to said arms to carry the clamp members heightwise ofthe last and thus to insure their disengagement from the upper, leverscarried by said arms for thus swinging said supports, and membersrelatively to which the arms are movable for thus operating said leversin response to the inward movements of the arms.

THEODORE P. COURCHENE. References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,048,000 Finn July 21, 19362,254,369 Jorgensen Sept. 2, 1941

